PROVERBS LESSON 17

     We will begin in this lesson in Proverbs 12:15 "The way of a fool
[is] right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel [is]
wise."

     We discussed before that a fool is lacking in understanding. In
second II Timothy 3:2 "For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents,
unthankful, unholy," This is describing self centered people who will
not listen to good counsel, but thinks the world revolves around them.
We are told in II Timothy that this will be the condition of the
people of the world in the end times. Lucifer had this attitude in
heaven and God threw him out. Secular humanism and many modern
teachings of even some of the churches are teaching that man can
become God. To think too highly of ourselves makes us a fool. We must
heed the counsel of God to be wise. His counsel is the Bible.  Wise
counsels teach the Bible ways.

     Proverbs 12:16 "A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent
[man] covereth shame."

     This is commonly known as "loosing your temper". Someone lacking
in understanding (fool) gets mad before he even knows what the problem
is. We are warned in the Bible not to get angry without a cause and to
not let the sun go down on our anger. A prudent man, or perhaps a
careful man, thinks it out before he goes off head strong.

    Proverbs 12:17 "[He that] speaketh truth sheweth forth
righteousness: but a false witness deceit."

     He That speaketh truth has truth in his heart.  Jesus is the
Truth. Someone (in right standing) righteous  always speaks truth
because it is in his heart. Luke 6:45 "A good man out of the good
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil
man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is
evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh." You see,
the truth is righteous and deceit is evil.

     Proverbs 12:18 "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a
sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health."

     We see here, people hurt by piercings words. More people are hurt
by their so called friends and family saying cutting things than by
actual wounds inflicted. Their words cut your heart like a sword being
pushed through you. The tongue is like a weapon. It can destroy or
build up. I personally believe the tongue is the most evil part of the
body until it is totally turned over to God, and then it can be like a
healing balm. A wise person can use the tongue to build up a person.

     Proverbs 12:19 "The lip of truth shall be established for ever:
but a lying tongue [is] but for a moment." Proverbs 12:20 "Deceit [is]
in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counselors of peace
[is] joy."

     Lies are soon found out and do not last. A runaway imagination is
a very dangerous thing. Imagination is not truth but just like deceit
it is a lie. Joy and peace go hand in hand. Peace makers bring joy to
themselves and everyone around them.

     Proverbs 12:21 "There shall no evil happen to the just: but the
wicked shall be filled with mischief."

     We see the mischief here as the evil that happens to the wicked
as a result of their sin. The just person is not subject to the
actions of the devil. The devil would have to get the Lord's
permission (for some momentary trial) to afflict a Christian. We are
not the devil's property, we are the Lord's. Everything that happens
to a Christian has a purpose. The Lord sometimes allows a tribulation
to come to make us stronger, but the devil cannot bring trouble on us
without the Lord's permission. If we are Christians. Job is a very
good example of this.

     Proverbs 12:22 "Lying lips [are] abomination to the LORD: but
they that deal truly [are] his delight."

     We see that lying is a terrible sin in the sight of God. In the
second part of this statement, we see the truth is greatly loved by
God. Not only is it important to speak truth, but also it is important
to deal truthfully. It is not enough just to speak Christianity, but
we must live it every day.

     Proverbs 12:23 "A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart
of fools proclaimeth foolishness."

     An intelligent, cautious man waits  for the correct moment to
reveal what he knows about a particular thing. He doesn't just tell
everyone what he knows. Its always has been interesting to me how
people love to talk about things they know nothing about. I believe
that is what the fool is doing here. His lack of knowledge is not
keeping him from talking, and he is talking of things he knows not of.

     Proverbs 12:24 "The hand of the diligent shall bear rule: but the
slothful shall be under tribute."

     We see, here, again, that hard work will get you promoted and you
will rule over those who are too lazy to work. Tribute is a little
like taxes. We see again, that hard work pays off.

     Proverbs 12:25 "Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop:
but a good word maketh it glad."

     When a person is worried, they do have a tendency to hang their
head low. In Matthew 26:37, we see that even Jesus was troubled facing
the death on the cross. Matthew 26:37 "And he took with him Peter and
the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy."

     When we are extremely sad or worried, we are said to have a heavy
heart. We are also warned about too much worry. We are told to take no
thought for what we are to say, that God will fill our ears and mouth
with what we are to say. We are also taught that we should live one
day at a time and not worry about tomorrow. Someone who says nice
things to others makes them have a glad heart.

     Proverbs 12:26 "The righteous [is] more excellent than his
neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them."

     A Christian is not only valuable to God, but is valuable to his
community, as well. He is a good citizen who obeys the laws of the
land. His brothers call him blessed, because he loves them as he loves
himself; and he helps them every day he can. He even witnesses to his
neighbors about the Lord and helps them to be Christians too. The
wicked are not so. The wicked are constantly getting into all kinds of
trouble. They want what the neighbors have. They also cause the
neighbors great problems. They are not satisfied with going bad
themselves but try to lead others into sin, as well. You can easily
see the difference in these 2 very different ways of life. The
Christian's way brings peace and joy, and the wicked's way brings hate
and destruction.

     Proverbs 12:27 "The slothful [man] roasteth not that which he
took in hunting: but the substance of a diligent man [is] precious."

     My husband has always taught our sons and their sons that is
alright to hunt and fish, but you must not kill anything you do not
intend to eat. To kill for sport alone is evil. God made animals,
birds, and fish for meat for man's table not to destroy for the fun of
it. The second half of the verse above indicates that the substance a
good man acquires is gotten honestly and fairly through hard work and
is precious to him. He doesn't waste, he regards everything he
acquires as a gift from God and is a good steward of what is entrusted
to him.

     Proverbs 12:28 "In the way of righteousness [is] life; and [in]
the pathway [thereof there is] no death."

     Being in right standing with God (having righteousness) does
bring a fuller life here and brings life eternal with Jesus. The
second death has no power on this person. The 22 chapter of
Revelation gives us a beautiful picture of what it will be like where
this type of person spends all of eternity. Revelation 22:1 "And he
shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding
out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." Revelation 22:2 "In the
midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, [was
there] the tree of life, which bare twelve [manner of] fruits, [and]
yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree [were] for
the healing of the nations." Revelation 22:3 "And there shall be no
more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and
his servants shall serve him:" Go ahead and read the rest of chapter
22. It is beautiful. No one would want to miss this glorious life in
heaven with Jesus Christ our Lord.

                    Proverbs Questions 17

1.  Does a fool feel that his ways are wrong?
2.  Who is wise in verse 15?
3.  In the end times, who do worldly men love?
4.  Who was thrown out of heaven because he was self centered?
5.  What is God's counsel to us?
6.  What is a fool's wrath commonly called?
7.  What are 2 warnings in the Bible about anger?
8.  What is a dangerous teaching in many churches?
9.  He that speaketh truth sheweth what?
10. A false witness shows what?
11. In chapter 6 verse 45 of Luke, a good man brings good from where?
12. What is speaking bad things compared to in verse 18?
13. What does the author believe is the most evil part of the body?
14. Kind words bring what in verse 18?
15. The lip of truth shall be established forever but a lying tongue
    is but for a ____________.
16. People who imagine evil have what in their hearts?
17. In verse 21, we see the wicked are filled with what?
18. Who does the devil have to get permission from to attack a
    Christian?
19. What man is a good example of that in the Bible?
20. How does God feel about lying lips?
21. Who is God delighted in?
22. Fools proclaiming foolishness are like what?
23. In verse 24, we see that who rules?
24. What shall the slothful be?
25. What in the heart of man makes him stoop?
26. When we are extremely sad or worried, we are said to have what?
27. Who is a Christian valuable to besides God?
28. The Christian's way brings peace, but the wicked's way brings
    what?
29. What lesson about hunting has the author's husband taught their
    sons that is also taught in verse 27 here?
30. In the way of righteousness is _________.
31. What chapter in Revelation gives a beautiful view of heaven?